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Welcome to the discussion thread for Hayate no Gotoku - Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Episode 4.

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Now we're back in my groove. I can always appreciate a good commentary on otaku culture, set in the nerd mecca of Akiba. (Featuring the nerd mecha of Akiba.) So the sisterly bonding resulted in a loss of innocence and loss of money from all parties, but I enjoyed watching it. While the revelation that fans can bitterly fight even if they're into the same thing (see for example: this thread) is hardly a new one, it was carried off well enough, I thought. I kinda miss the bleeping out of official show names from the first season - the censorship made it funnier, I thought - but the show moving forward in time has allowed some more contemporary references, such as Madoka. (Technically, she didn't die at the end, but it's something close to it... that'd just be arguing semantics.)

That scene at the beginning of the episode with Ruri talking to the birds about something - who is she supposed to be, Mea Kurosaki? Technically, she is, but the mystery of what exactly Ruri's doing here has thickened. Quite enjoyed this one, looking forward to what happens next.

Err, what was that? Why was an entire episode wasted on.........nothing? Unless I'm mistaken and this is relevant to the storyline (which I slightly doubt -_-). One positive thing I'll say about this episode was that the artwork was better than last time.

Why are all these hardly known side characters getting so much screen time? We've barely seen much of Ayumu and have yet to see Isumi and Sayuka (the mini skits in the middle of the episode don't count). I was under the impression they were trying to wrap up this story, is that not what they had in mind??? Either way... I'm tired of seeing these characters that I hardly know, not to mention I find them uninteresting. Give me back the main cast!

I feel kind of stupid and cheated when I can actually finish the jokes on the first watch before they're spoken. There were some enjoyable moments, but I actually had to contemplate how I was watching a Hayate no Gotoku episode that didn't make me laugh.

*sigh* At least it's only 12 episodes. I can set a hopeful parameter and not expect too much out of it.

Why are all these hardly known side characters getting so much screen time?

Because most of the characters you're used to seeing in the first two seasons are minor characters now. Chiharu especially is a major character in the manga these days. It's not something you have to like (I miss Sakuya...) but it's the truth.

That scene at the beginning of the episode with Ruri talking to the birds about something - who is she supposed to be, Mea Kurosaki? Technically, she is, but the mystery of what exactly Ruri's doing here has thickened. Quite enjoyed this one, looking forward to what happens next.

I have a feeling Ruri was talking to only one bird in particular, and that one doesn't seem to be a normal bird, so to speak.

Truth is... this episode just confirmed she's up to no good.

If anyone remembers what the "Black Camellia" is, you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I'll quote what I said on another forum.

Hayate no Gotoku as a whole changed a lot over time. The classic "happy-go-lucky" period, full of parodies and craziness ended a LONG time ago. You can't expect the series to be the same it was 3 or 5 years ago. Things changed. Comedy isn't the main thing anymore. You may or may not like that, but that's how it is. It has been like this ever since the driving plot behind the series was presented to the manga readers a few years ago.

And now, it's time for the anime fans to experience that transition.

They actually seem to be warming up for something even bigger. This not the whole thing. At least not yet, so have a little bit of faith on the production staff.

Hayate no Gotoku as a whole changed a lot over time. The classic "happy-go-lucky" period, full of parodies and craziness ended a LONG time ago. You can't expect the series to be the same it was 3 or 5 years ago. Things changed. Comedy isn't the main thing anymore. You may or may not like that, but that's how it is. It has been like this ever since the driving plot behind the series was presented to the manga readers a few years ago.

And now, it's time for the anime fans to experience that transition.

I'm appreciating the vague symbolic things the third season is going for on some level, and Keiichiro Kawaguchi is still an active director, one of his shows is on this season, in fact. Plus, the wacky, reference-heavy comedy torch has been passed onto other things like Nyarko. But the first season is still very important to me, one of the series I saw when I was just starting out at this forum, one that defined what an anime comedy had the potential to be.

No mistake, I'm still going to ride this season out - Ruri's plot is holding my attention. But if someone asked what Hayate meant to me, I would point to the first season every time.

1st season was really something,but as they say change is the only constant.
we can only hope it stays relevant. nevertheless this season still holds my interest partly for the rabid HnG ( and hinagiku ) fan inside curious what happened after on their story. Still wondering about the missing chapters and time skip though. I guess they will address this later on. [ Or maybe even be part of the plot who knows]

besides it may be different but its still better i think than a lot of other meh shows coming up or currently out there.

I feel like this episode broke the sacred covenant between the manga/anime and the viewer, by baldy stating exactly what anime/manga/games it was referencing. Half the humor of Hayate is the sense of smug superiority when you happen to get all their references hidden behind asterisks.

1. 8/10 only b/c compare to last episode, the art is better...
2. Maybe people here just are not getting the reference b/c they're just otaku-wannabe? j/k (B/c personally, all I'll say is, either I'm not otaku enough or the reference are extremely obscure on purpose)
3. Side note on the Kayura v. Chiharu argument b/t Manga & LN = is that an intentional reference to the Kirino v. Kuroneko argument in Oreimo?
4. I do agree that the plot is stretch out too much. It's good as a 1/2 episode plot but that's about it.
5. Final word = I do wonder where this series is going. Clearly Tsugumi is there for a reason other than creating random scenes...

Truths or not-so-truths about Otaku:
1. Otaku will always get all items and merchandise related to their favorite 2D dimensional girl, idol girl, manga, anime, light novels, and/or TV program that features their kawaii girl, no matter what.

2. Otaku may or not fight or ague against other otaku, as they discuss even the same manga artists.

3. Otaku do not get swayed with the big or mainstream titles.

4. Otaku like some speciality in their preferences, though they may agee that stories featuring very cute girls who happen to die at the end of the story aren't refreshing or suitable to them.

5. Otaku will get any items by any means necessary, though it should and must be done within the law. However, that's just not an excuse to overdue the credit card; remember that Japan's strictly a cash oriented society.